Cooking device



Dec. 27, 1932. B ms 1,892,117

COOKING DEVICE Filed Nov. 11, 1930 INVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 27, 1932 UNITED STATES GEORGE B. PERKINS, F PASADENA,CALIFORNIA cooxmo nnvron Application filed November 11, 1930. Serial No.494,885.

This inventiimrelates to cooking devices Slifll as toasters for toastingbread and the li e.

The invention to which it relates is particularly adapted to the use inelectrical apparatus as electrical toasters.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved method and meansfor applying predetermined markings to an article of diet, such as apiece of toast;v V

Another object is 9; provide an improved marking apparatuswhich will besimple in construction and will automatically apply a predetermineddesign to anwarticle being cooked.

Other objects will hereinafter ap ear.

The invention will be better un erstood from the description of twopractical em-- n the apparatus til ustrated in Figure 1,

the toaster consists of a base 1 supported on insulating feet 2 andhaving two upwardly extending supports 3 adjacent its. ends, the

upper ends of the supports being connected by a horizontal top 4.Between the supports are arranged heating elements, these.

being illustrated as coils of wire 5 supported on strips of insulatingmaterial 6.

At each side of this heating structure is provided a channel-shapedholder for a piece of bread, the holder consisting of a flat bottomportion 7 which is pivotally and slidably mounted in slot 8 in a lateralextension of the supporting members? Two vertical sides, consisting ofside bars 9, transverse bars 10, and upper bars 11, are convenientlyformed integrally with the bottom member 7, and the latter member isprovided with a heat insulating handle 12 b which it may be convenientlymanipulate The parts ,so far described are merely illustrative of anumber of types of toasters already on the market.

A piece of bread 13 may be inserted in either holder, and bymanipulation of the handle 12 either side may be exposed to the heat ofthe heating elements 5. I have provided a series of letter-shapedshields 14 conveniently supported upon two of the bars 10, these shieldsbeing formed preferably of heat insulating material such "as asbestos,fiber, phenolic condensation products or the like. These letters mayspell any desired legend or the shields may be in the shape of anydesireddesignSflzrade-marks or other devices, instead of beingletter-shaped. The shields, being carried by the bread holder, areinterposed between the surface of the bread and the heating elements,being closely adjacent the former, and so prevent any radiated heatreaching the surface of the bread over which they lie. As a result,while the majority of the surface of the bread becomes darker due tobeing partially carbonized (as shown at 15), as the cooking processprogresses that covered by the shields remains light (as illustrated at16, darkening, if at all, only slightly, and the resultant piece oftoast has clearly delineated upon its surface in lighter lines thedesign of the shields, these being contrasted to the darker'background.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, a form of toaster asillustrated having a base 21 provided with an upwardly extending casing.22 having a slot 23 in its top through which a piece of bread may bein- 35 serted. Electrical heating elements 24 are positioned within thecasing adjacent both sides of the space for receiving the bread, and thesupply of electricity to these is controlled by switch operated by alever 25 which is depressed when the piece of bread or the like isinserted. Devices of this kind which are automatic in their operationare arranged to release the lever 25, projecting the piece of toastafter it has been completely cooked, 95 through the slot at the top ofthe casing.

I have provided two levers or arms 26 pivoted as at 27 adjacent thebottom of the cas ing, each lever being provided with an inwardlyextending arm 28 arranged to be contacted by the lever 25 when in itslowermost position, and so to swing arms 26 to ther, so that their u perends will be broug t into contact with the piece of bread. These endsare provided at 29 with shields of the desired shape, which in thismanner are held upon the surface of the bread and protect it from theradiant heat of the electrical heating elements, as in the embodimentabove described. Compression spri 30 are positioned between t e arms 28an the bottom of the casing, and as soon as the lever 25 begins to moveupwardly, move the arms 26 outwardly into the itions indicated indot-and-dash lines, i so t at they will not interfere with the freeupward movement of the piece of toast.

While I have described the illustrated embodiments of my invention insome particularity, obviously this is done by way of illustration only,it being apparent that many other embodiments will readily occur tothose skilled in thisart, and I do not therefore limit myself to therecise details shown and described herein, ut claim as my invention, allembodiment, variations and modifications coming within the scope of thesubjoined claims.

I claim 1. A cooking device comprising spaced electrical heatingelements between which an article of food may be placed, a support foran article of food retained in one posltion during the cookingoperation, and movable at the completion of the operation to eject saidarticle, sup rts between the article and the heatin e ements,heating-insulating shields carrieg b said supports, and automatic meansmoving the shields into contact with the article of food and actuated bythe movement of the support.

2. A cooking device comprising spaced electrical heating elementsbetween which an article of food may be placed, a support for saidarticle of food retained in one position during the cooking operationand movable at the completion of the operation to eject the article,supports between the article and the heating elements, heat-insulatingshields carried by said sup orts, automatic means moving the shieldsinto contact with the article actuated by the movementoi the sup rt, andresilient means for movi 'd shiell s away from said article when t ecooking is completed.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aifix my signature this 24th day'ofOctober, A. D. 1930.

GEORGE B. PERxmsn

